Easy-to-use container

ABSTRACT

A container and dispenser in conical shape for edible or non-edible substances is described.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 11/506,384, filedAug. 18, 2006, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of Internationalapplication no. PCT/US2005/002405, filed Jan. 25, 2005, which claims thepriority of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/782,218, filed Feb. 19, 2004,now U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,692, issued Jul. 11, 2006, the entire contentsof each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is generally directed to a novel device forholding and dispensing edibles or non-edible substances, in a measuredand precise manner, where such devices can be easily and convenientlyopened without the need for a knife, scissors or other utensil, andeasily resealed.

BACKGROUND

In numerous instances of use or consumption of liquid or semi-liquidsubstances, there is a need for a dispenser that allows the substance tobe applied in a measured and precise manner. For example, a personeating french fries may want to dispense a small portion of ketchup onthe fries; a person eating a bagel, roll or another type of bread maywant to use a small portion of spread-able cheese, jam, or chocolatepaste; a person eating a salad may want a small portion of saladdressing; a hotel guest may require a small portion of shampoo or soapfor an overnight stay. In all these instances, consumers want to be ableto apply the substance where they want it, and in the volume they wantit.

In general, a container, like any consumer product, is preferably easyand convenient to use, especially when containers of relatively smallportions are involved. When the portion to be consumed is relativelysmall, people do not want to encounter too many practical obstacles inopening the container and dispensing the small portion. Consumerstypically want the small portions to be easily dispensable withoutspending much time opening the container or ensuring that the content bedispensed in a proper and accurate manner.

Many conventional containers require a tool or utensil for opening thecontainer or dispensing the content of the container. For example, acontainer may require a knife or other device for opening the container,or a fork or spoon to dispense the substance of the container. The needfor a tool or utensil makes the container cumbersome to use therebygreatly diminishing its practicality and attractiveness to consumers.Again this is particularly true for containers and dispensers of smallportions, where the small size of the content to be dispensed may notjustify the extra burden of effort or time of using a tool or utensil.The use of a tool or utensil to open the container or dispense itscontent generally involves an investment of time and effort thatconsumers generally prefer not to expend, if they had a choice.Consumers typically prefer a container that can be opened and usedwithout the need for a utensil or other device.

When consumers use a dispenser, they do not necessarily want to consumeall of the contents of the dispenser. Therefore, consumers prefer adispenser that can be easily re-sealed which allows them to consume theremainder of the contents of the dispenser at a later time.

In addition, it is preferable that the dispenser be easy and relativelycheap to manufacture.

There remains a need for a dispenser or container of fluid or semi-fluidsubstances which a) allows the substance to be applied in a measured andprecise manner, b) is easy and convenient to use, c) can be opened andused without the need for a utensil or other device, d) can be easilyresealed, and e) is simple and economical to manufacture. The terms“container” and “dispenser” are used herein interchangeably.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to a container and dispenser having aconical shape and to a method of manufacturing such container fordispensing liquids or semi-liquids. The container is constructed ofcollapsible, waterproof material, and the edible or non-edible substanceis completely enclosed and sealed within the dispenser. A tab isattached to the tip of the cone and the cone can be opened by removingthe tab. After the user has removed the tab from the tip of thedispenser, an opening is created in the tip of the cone and the user caneasily dispense the substance in a precise and measured manner bypressing the collapsible walls or back of the dispenser without the needfor a knife, scissors or other utensil.

In an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, there is a zone ofweakness where the tab is attached to the tip of the cone to allow thetab to be torn off the tip of the cone with great ease. The tip of thecone may be made of tin foil or similar material which makes the tip ofthe cone easily re-sealable, after the tab has been removed, by simplypressing together the walls of the tip of the cone.

In another exemplary embodiment, a cap is built into the tab and thecone can be opened by removing the cap from the tip of the cone and canbe re-sealed by pressing the cap on the tip of the cone.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the tab is flexible and in certainparts lightly pasted along the sidewalls of the cone from which it canbe easily removed by pulling the tab.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the subject matter of the present disclosure can be morereadily understood from the following detailed description withreference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a container and dispenser, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, wherein there is a zone ofweakness at the location where the tab is attached to the tip of thecone to allow the tab to be torn off the tip of the cone with greatease;

FIG. 2 shows the container and dispenser of FIG. 1 after the tab hasbeen removed from the tip of the cone. The tip of the cone may be madein tin foil or similar material which makes the tip of the cone easilyre-sealable, after the tab has been removed, by simply pressing togetherthe walls of the tip of the cone;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a container and dispenser,according to another embodiment, wherein a cap is enclosed in the taband the cone can be opened by removing the cap from the tip of the coneand re-sealed by pressing the cap on the tip of the cone;

FIG. 4 shows a container and dispenser, according to another embodiment,wherein the tab is flexible and in certain parts lightly pasted to andalong the sidewalls of the cone from which it can be easily removed bypulling the tab;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a container in a horizontalposition;

FIG. 6A shows a transverse sectional view of the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 5 taken approximately along the line 102-102 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6B shows a longitudinal cross section of the exemplary embodimentof FIG. 5 taken approximately along the line 103-103 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6C shows a perpendicular view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5taken approximately along the line 104-104 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6D shows a frontal view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5 takenapproximately along the line 105-105 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6E shows a frontal view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5 takenapproximately along the line 106-106 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a view of another exemplary embodiment of a container,after the container has been opened;

FIG. 8 shows a partial expanded view of the cross-sectional view of theembodiment of FIG. 6B;

FIG. 9 shows a partial expanded view of a cross-sectional view ofanother exemplary embodiment of a container;

FIG. 10 shows an exemplary embodiment of a sheet used to manufacture acontainer;

FIG. 11 shows another exemplary embodiment of a sheet used tomanufacture a container;

FIG. 12 shows an exemplary embodiment of two sheets used to manufacturea container;

FIG. 13 shows how an exemplary embodiment of a container is assembled;

FIGS. 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19 show different exemplary embodiments of atab before it has been attached to the sidewalls;

FIG. 15 shows a side view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 14, takenapproximately along the line 115-115 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 20 shows an exemplary embodiment of a container incorporating thetab shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 shows a cross-sectional view of a container, in accordance withanother exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 22 shows a perspective view of the container of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 shows a bottom view of the container of FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made below to preferred embodiments of the disclosure,examples of which are also provided in the following description. Indescribing examples and preferred embodiments illustrated in thedrawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity.However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended tobe limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to beunderstood that each specific element includes all technical equivalentsthat operate in a similar manner.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, aconical-shaped dispenser according to an exemplary embodiment is shownin FIG. 1 in a horizontal position including the following maincomponents: sidewalls 41 of the cone; back 42 of the cone; and tab 46.Both the back 42 and the sidewalls 41 of the cone can be made ofcollapsible, waterproof material (such as plastic, tin foil, etc.). Thetab 46 is flat and intersects with the cone at the top region 49 of thecone and is used to open the dispenser at the top region 49 of the cone.To start tearing off the tab 46, a user of the dispenser may hold thedispenser by keeping the sidewalls 41 of the cone between index andthumb of one hand, while holding the tab between index and thumb of theother hand, and start moving the two hands in opposite directions,focusing the force at a region where the top region 49 joins with thetab 46. As the force is applied, the top region 49 tears away from therest of the cone.

In a preferred embodiment, the collapsible walls 41 of the cone can bemade of a combination of three different materials creating threeseparate regions in the walls of the cone. First, the top region 49 ofthe cone runs from the tip 44 of the cone until an upper dividing line51. Second, a region 52 of the cone runs from the upper dividing line 51until a lower dividing line 53, which is located between the upperdividing line 51 and border 55 where the back 42 (which is circular inthe exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1) of the cone is attached to thesidewalls 41 of the cone 41. Third, the lower region 54 of the cone runsfrom the lower dividing line 53 to the border 55 (which is circular inthe exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1).

Still referring to FIG. 1, the upper dividing line 51 is in line withthe location where the lower part of the tab 46 joins with the topregion 49 of the cone. In order to facilitate the tearing movement bythe user and the removal of the top region 49 of the cone, the dividingline 51 may be slightly indented or perforated, creating a zone ofweakness. Also, the top region 49 of the cone may be made of a weakermaterial than the middle region 52 of the cone, thereby furtherfacilitating the removal of the top region of the cone when the usermakes the tearing movement along the dividing line 51. It should beunderstood that in other embodiments of the dispenser, a zone ofweakness can be created at the dividing line 51 or in which the tearingoff of the top region 49 at the dividing line 51 can be facilitated inany of many other different ways in order to optimize the functionalityand user-friendliness of the dispenser.

When the user has removed the top region 49 of the cone and the tab 46,the user is left with the middle region 52 of the cone and the lowerregion 54 of the cone, and the user has effectively and easily opened apassageway for the substance to leave the dispenser at the new tip ofthe dispenser which is the remaining part of the dividing line 51.

FIG. 2 shows the dispenser after the top region 49 of the cone and thetab 46 have been removed. The user can now dispense the substance whichis inside the cone in a precise manner by pointing the new tip 51 of thedispenser to the spot where the substance is to be dispensed. Also, theuser can now dispense the substance of the cone in a measured manner bymore or less pressing the collapsible walls of the middle region 52 orthe lower region 54 or the back 42 of the cone.

Still referring to FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment, the middleregion 52 of the collapsible walls of the dispenser can be made of amaterial such as tin foil, aluminum foil, etc. After the user has openedthe dispenser, in the manner described above, and has used it todispense some of the substance inside the cone, there is spare spaceavailable within the dispenser. The user can use this spare space topress the walls of the middle region 52 against each other, particularlyat or near the new tip 51 of the dispenser, where the cone is not aswide yet. By pressing together the walls of the middle region in tinfoil, the user can in effect re-seal the dispenser as it closes off thetip of the cone hermetically. It should be understood by those skilledin the art that the sealing effect may also be achieved by othermaterials than tin foil. Once the cone is resealed, the user can storethe cone for use at a later time while keeping the substance of the conein good, non-oxidated condition.

FIG. 3 shows an expanded, detailed cross-sectional view of a containerand dispenser, according to another embodiment taken approximately alongthe line A-A′ of FIG. 1. The container and dispenser of FIG. 3 includestab 86, a cap 82 which is enclosed in the tab 86 and the walls 81 of thecone. In this embodiment, the walls of the middle region are notcollapsible and the cap 82 is held firm between these walls. The cap 82is flexible so that sidewalls 84 of the cap 82 can bend to enable thelower side 85 of the cap to be squeezed through the narrower opening 83of the cone when the user of the dispenser pulls the tab 86. After theuser has opened the dispenser by pulling the cap 82, the user can startusing the dispenser. After the user has used the dispenser, the user canreseal the dispenser by pressing the tab 86 with the enclosed cap againon the dispenser.

It should be understood that other embodiments of the cap 82 arepossible such as the addition of a holder of the cap in which the cap 82can be held. The holder of the cap can be attached to the walls of themiddle region and obviates a requirement that the walls not becollapsible.

FIG. 4 shows a container and dispenser according to an embodiment inwhich tab 96 is flexible and at least one side of the tab 96 is lightlypasted to locations 91 and along sidewalls 92 of the cone. The user caneasily remove the tab 96 from the sidewalls 92 to which it is attachedby gently pulling the tab 96. After the user has so removed the tab 96from the sidewalls 92, the user can continue the movement and in theprocess remove the top region 49 of the cone from the rest of the cone.

It should be understood that the tab 96 can be made of any of variousmaterials and can be replaced with a yarn, thread, string, etc., for theportion which is pasted to the sidewalls 92 of the cone. The string orthread may be made of a material chosen from paper, plastic, tin foil,metal, fiber or a combination thereof. In addition, the tab can beattached, pasted to or wrapped around the sidewalls of the dispenser inany of many different ways.

FIG. 5 shows a container in a horizontal position and including thefollowing components thereof: sidewalls 141 of the cone, back 142 of thecone and tab 143. Both the back 142 of the cone and the sidewalls 141can be made of collapsible, waterproof material such as plastic or tinfoil. The tab 143 can be made of a material that maintains the shape andstiffness of the cone even when the volume of the substance contained inthe container decreases. Another function of the tab is to facilitatethe opening of the container at the tip of the cone.

The tab shown in FIG. 5 features notches 145 at respective sides of thetab 143. The user of the container can choose either side of the tab tostart tearing off the top region 146 of the tab 143 starting at theinner tip 147 of either notch 145 and continuing along a perforated orindented scoreline 148 which runs from one side of the tab to the otherand intersects with the top region 149 of the cone. The tab 143 caninclude thicker region 150 below the scoreline 148 and a less rigid,thinner region 146 above the scoreline. The less rigid, thinner upperregion 146 of the tab makes it easier for the user of the container totear off that portion of the tab to open the container while the thickerlower region of the tab maintains the conical shape of the container,even after it has been opened, and regardless of how much substance hasbeen dispensed and left the cone. To start tearing off the upper region146 of the tab, the user of the container may hold the container bykeeping the lower part of the tab between index and thumb of one hand,and the upper part of the tab between index and thumb of the other hand,and start moving the two hands in opposite directions creating the mostpressure at the inner tip 147 of the notch 145 that is located at theside of the tab where the user is holding the container. As the pressurebuilds, the tab will start tearing apart at such inner tip.

The collapsible walls 141 of the cone can be made of a plurality ofdifferent materials creating respective separate regions in the walls ofthe cone. Top region 149 of the cone runs from the tip 144 of the coneuntil an upper dividing line 151. Middle region 152 of the cone runsfrom the upper dividing line 151 until a lower dividing line 153, whichis located between the upper dividing line 151 and border 155 where theback 142 (which is circular in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5) ofthe cone is attached to the sidewalls of the cone 141. Lower region 154of the cone runs from the lower dividing line 153 to the border 155(which is circular in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5).

The upper dividing line 151 is in line with the perforated or indentedscoreline 148 in the tab 143. When the user of the container has tornoff part of the upper region of the tab starting at the inner tip 147 ofeither notch 145 and continuing along the perforated or indentedscoreline 148 until reaching the upper dividing line 151 in the topregion 149 of the cone, the user can continue his tearing movement alongthe dividing line 151 to also tear off the top region 149 of the cone,and even the other side of the tab along the dividing line on the otherside. In order to facilitate the continuation of the tearing movement ofthe user and the removal of the upper region of the cone, the dividingline 151 is slightly indented. Also, the top region 149 of the cone ismore strongly attached to the upper region 146 of the tab than to themiddle region 152 of the cone in order to ensure that the tearing off ofthe top region 149 would more naturally engender the tearing off of theupper region 146 of the tab when the user continues the tearing movementwhen it reaches the dividing line 151.

When the user has removed the top region 149 of the cone and the upperregion 146 of the tab, the user is left with the extra rigid, thickerregion 150 of the tab and the lower region 154 of the cone, and the userhas effectively and easily opened a passageway for the substance toleave the container at the new tip of the container which is theremaining part of the dividing line 151. FIG. 7 shows the containerafter the top region 149 of the cone and the upper region 146 of the tabhave been removed. The user can now dispense the substance of the conein a precise manner by pointing the new tip 151 of the container to thespot where the substance is to be dispensed. Also, the user can nowdispense the substance of the cone in a measured manner by more or lesspressing the collapsible walls of the middle region 152 or the lowerregion 154 or the back 142 of the cone.

The middle region 152 of the collapsible walls of the container can bemade of tin foil. After the user has opened the container, in the mannerdescribed above, and has used it to dispense some of the substance ofthe cone, there will be spare space available within the container. Theuser will be able to use this spare space to press the walls of themiddle region 152 against each other, particularly at or near the newtip 151 of the container, where the cone is not as wide yet. By pressingthe walls of the middle region in tin foil, the user will in effect beable to re-seal the container as it will close off the tip of the conehermetically. The sealing effect may also be achieved by materials otherthan tin foil. Once the cone is resealed, the user can store the conefor use at a later time while keeping the substance of the cone in goodcondition.

FIG. 6A shows a transverse sectional view of the container takenapproximately along the line 102-102 of FIG. 5 showing the top region149, the middle region 152 and part of the lower region 154 of the cone,and the upper dividing line 151 and the lower dividing line 153 from theinside. FIG. 6A also shows part of the thicker region 150 of the tab 143below the scoreline 148.

FIG. 6B shows a longitudinal cross section of the container takenapproximately along the line 103-103 of FIG. 5 showing the top region149, the middle region 152 and the lower region 154 of the cone, and theupper region 146 of the tab. FIG. 6B also shows half of the chamber 160within the collapsible walls of the cone where the substance to bedispensed will be maintained before being dispensed.

FIG. 8 shows an expanded view of part of the cross-sectional view ofFIG. 6B. FIG. 8 shows the upper region 146 of the tab, the top region149, the middle region 152 and part of the lower region 154 of the cone,and part of the chamber 160 within the collapsible walls of the cone.FIG. 8 also shows more clearly the indentation at the upper dividingline 151, which allows the user of the cone to more easily tear off thetop region 149 of the cone. Other embodiments of the container couldprovide for more or less indentation, or for other features facilitatingthe tearing off of the top region 149, at the dividing line 151 in orderto optimize the functionality and user-friendliness of the container.

FIG. 9 shows an expanded view of part of a cross-sectional view ofanother exemplary embodiment where the container is otherwise as shownin FIGS. 5, 6B and 8, with the exception that there is no middle region152 of the cone. Instead, the collapsible walls 141 of the cone are madeof only two separate regions in the walls of the cone: first, the topregion 149 of the cone which runs from the tip 144 of the cone until theupper dividing line 151, and second, the lower region 154 of the conewhich runs from the upper dividing line 151 to the circular border 155.In this exemplary embodiment, the lower region 154 of the cone may bemade of tin foil or a material with similar characteristics, like themiddle region 152 in the exemplary embodiment as described in FIG. 8,thereby also granting to this embodiment the feature of re-sealabilityto the lower region 154 of the cone.

FIG. 6C shows a perpendicular view of the container taken approximatelyalong the line 104-104 of FIG. 5 showing the top region 149, the middleregion 152, and the lower region 154 of the cone, the upper dividingline 151 and the lower dividing line 153, the circular border 155, thethicker lower region 150 of the tab, and the less rigid, thinner upperregion 146 of the tab, and the notch 145 that is visible on this side ofthe container.

FIG. 6D shows a frontal view of the back 142 of the cone takenapproximately along the line 105-105 of FIG. 5. The back 142 of thecone, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6D, is circular and flat andis attached to the sidewalls 141 of the cone at the circular border 155.

FIG. 6E shows a frontal view of the cone taken approximately along theline 106-106 of FIG. 5 showing the less rigid, thinner upper region 146of the tab and the lower region 150 of the tab, which sticks out becauseit is thicker than the upper region 146. FIG. 6E also shows thesidewalls 141 of the cone, which are gradually wider the closer they areto the circular border 155 where they are attached to the back 142 ofthe cone, and conversely are gradually narrower the closer they are tothe tip 144 of the cone which is enclosed in the upper region 146 of thetab.

Manufacturing of the sidewalls 141 of a conical shaped container, in anexemplary embodiment, can involve folding of a sheet of flexiblematerial in the shape as shown in FIG. 10, in which one side 166 of thesheet is joined together with the other side 167 of the sheet creating achamber in conical form where 144 is the tip of the chamber and theremaining side 165 of the sheet is at the bottom of the chamber. Thejoining of the two sides 166 and 167 creates a side seam 168 which willbe visible, such as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6E. The remaining side 165 ofthe sheet is attached to the back 142 of the cone, thereby forming thecircular border 155, which constitutes the circumference of the bottomof the container, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. As shown in FIG. 10, thesheet to constitute the sidewalls 141 of the container can be comprisedof three regions corresponding to top region 149, middle region 152, andlower region 154, divided by the upper dividing line 151 and the lowerdividing line 153. As described above, the upper dividing line 151 isslightly indented to allow the user of the container to more easily tearoff the top region 149.

FIG. 11 illustrates a sheet, similar to FIG. 10, for creating thesidewalls 141 of the container, except that there is no middle region152 in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 11. The sheet of FIG. 11is used for creating only two separate regions in the walls of the cone,that is, the top region 149 and the lower region 154 of the cone,divided by the upper dividing line 151.

The sidewalls 141 of the container could also be manufactured using twosubstantially identical (or complementary) sheets of flexible materialof a shape such as shown in FIG. 12, rather than folding a sheet asdescribed above. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 12, the sides 171and 172 of one sheet are joined with sides 172 and 171 of the othersheet, to create a chamber in conical form similar to the exemplaryembodiments described above. Similar to the joining of the two sides 166and 167 creating a side seam 168, as described above, the joining of thetwo sides 171 and 172 of one sheet with the two sides 171 and 172 of theother sheet, creates, in each case, a side seam 268, which is externalto the main body, such as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. The remaining sides173 of the two sheets in FIG. 12 are similar to the remaining side 165of FIG. 10, to be attached to the back 142 of the cone, thereby formingbottom seam 255, as shown in FIGS. 21-23. The joined top regions 176 ofthe sheet in FIG. 12 are similar to the top region 149 of FIG. 10; thejoined middle regions 177 of the sheet in FIG. 12 are similar to themiddle region 152 of FIG. 10; the joined lower regions 178 of the sheetin FIG. 12 are similar to the lower region 154 of FIG. 10; the joinedupper dividing lines 174 of the sheet in FIG. 12 are similar to theupper dividing line 151 of FIG. 10; the joined lower dividing lines 175of the sheet in FIG. 12 are similar to the lower dividing line 153 ofFIG. 10. Similar to the embodiment described in FIG. 10, the upperdividing lines 174 are slightly indented to allow the user of thecontainer to tear off the joined top regions 176 more easily.Alternative processes can of course be used to manufacture the sidewallsin conical shape where one or more sideseams, or no sideseams at all,will be visible when the container is assembled. As described furtherbelow, FIGS. 21-23 show an exemplary embodiment of a container in whichthe sidewalls 141 of the container are manufactured using twosubstantially identical (or complementary) sheets of flexible materialof a shape such as shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 shows how the sidewalls 141, the back 142 of the cone and thetab 143 can be assembled to construct the container. The tab 143 isattached to the sidewalls 141 of the cone so that the tab sits in themiddle of the cone enclosing the tip 144 of the cone within the tab. Theback 142 of the cone is circular in shape, in the exemplary embodimentof FIG. 13, and is attached to the sidewalls 141 of the cone. FIG. 13also shows the top region 149, the middle region 152, and the lowerregion 154, the upper dividing line 151 and the lower dividing line 153separating the regions of the cone, the side seam 168 of the cone, thelower side 165 of the walls which will be attached to the back 142 ofthe cone, the two regions of the tab 143 (the thicker region 150 belowthe scoreline 148, and the less rigid, thinner region 146 above thescoreline 148) and the two notches 145 at both sides of the tab 143.

Manufacturing in an exemplary embodiment, can include the followingsteps. In one step, to form the container, a sheet as shown in FIG. 10is folded to create the sidewalls of the cone 141. In a second step, thetab 143 is attached on top of the sidewalls, as shown in FIG. 13. Thetab 143 might be manufactured in any of various ways, such as discussedexemplarily below. In a third step, the container is filled with fluidor semi-fluid substance to be contained and dispensed. In another step,the back 142 of the cone is attached to the sidewalls. As an example ofan alternative sequence, the back 142 of the cone may be sealedpartially. During filling the non-sealed part of the bottom seam may beopened to allow filling, for example, by means of a separator withsuction cups. The remainder of the seam is then sealed.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that alternativeprocesses and manufacturing procedures may become apparent which enablethe assembly of the container as shown in FIG. 5. Also, it should beevident that sheets in different shapes might be used to manufacture thecontainer in a more economical or efficient manner, or that the shape ofthe sheets as described above may be slightly adjusted or cut tofacilitate the welding, gluing or attaching of the various components ofthe container. In addition, it should be understood that there are avariety of materials by which the various regions and parts of theinvention can be welded, glued (for example, using polymer or othersubstances), or otherwise attached to each other, and that there are avariety of different methods and procedures by which such welding,gluing or attaching may be realized.

FIGS. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 show different exemplary embodiments ofthe tab 143 before it has been attached to the sidewalls 141. In FIG.14, the upper region 146 of the tab is longer in length than in FIG. 5.Such exemplary embodiment has the advantage that the user of thecontainer has more grip on the upper region and therefore can moreeasily tear off that region to open the container. FIG. 15 shows a sideview of the tab 143 taken approximately along the line 115-115 of FIG.14 showing the great difference in width between the extra rigid andthicker lower region 150 and the less rigid, thinner upper region 146.FIG. 15 also shows how there is a transition section 180 from the lower,thicker region 150 to the upper, thinner region 146 at the lower part ofthe notch 145.

FIG. 16 shows an exemplar embodiment of the tab where the notch 145 goesmuch deeper into the tab 143 so that the inner tip 147 of either notch145 is located much nearer to the area where the tip of the cone will belocated. In such embodiment, the perforated or indented scoreline 148 isalso shorter so that the user of the container can apply less effort toremove the upper region 146 of the tab and the upper region 149 of thecone.

FIG. 17 shows another exemplary embodiment of the tab where the upperregion 146 of the tab is longer in length than in FIG. 5 and where thenotch 145 does not go as deep into to the tab 143 so that the inner tip147 of either notch 145 is located further away from the area where thetip of the cone will be located. In such embodiment, the perforated orindented scoreline 148 is also longer. In addition, the lower region 150and the upper region 146 of the tab in FIG. 17 have the same or similarthickness.

FIG. 18 shows yet another exemplary embodiment of the tab where upperregion 146 of the tab features an additional stub 181 right above thetwo notches 145. The additional stub 181 may be an integrated part of,and therefore made of the same material as, the upper region 146 or maybe made of material that is even more flexible and thin than the rest ofthe upper region 146.

FIG. 19 shows an exemplary embodiment of the tab where a yarn or thread182 is incorporated into the upper region 146 right above the perforatedor indented scoreline 148. An additional perforated scoreline 183 ismade right above the yarn or thread 182. The user of the container whowants to open the container can remove the upper region 146 of the taband the top region 149 of the cone in a simple manner by pulling theyarn or thread 182, part of which is hanging loose on the side of thetab at the height of the notch so that the user can easily grasp theyarn or thread 182. The yarn or thread may be made of a material such aspaper, plastic, tin foil, metal, fiber, etc., or a combination thereof.Alternatively, the yarn or thread 182 may be made of the same or asimilar material as the material of the upper region 146 of the tab.Also, rather than incorporating the yarn or thread 182 into the upperregion 146, it may be attached on the upper region, either before thetab 143 is attached to the sidewalls 141 of the cone, or after.

FIG. 20 shows an exemplary embodiment in which a yarn or thread 182 isattached to the upper region 146 as described above in reference to FIG.19. In addition to being aligned between the perforated or indentedscoreline 148 and the additional scoreline 183, the yarn or thread 182is also wrapped around the top region 149 of the cone on one side of thetab. Alternatively, two yarns or threads may run parallel along thescorelines while one of the yarns or threads wraps around the top region149 on one side of the tab, and the other yarn or thread wraps aroundthe top region 149 on the other side of the tab.

FIG. 21 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of anempty container showing the inside of one half of the collapsiblesidewalls 141 of the conical main body and the inside of one half of thecollapsible back 142 of the conical main body. In this embodiment, thecollapsible sidewalls 141 are manufactured using two sheets of flexiblematerial of a shape such as shown in FIG. 12, one sheet of which isessentially shown in FIG. 21, since FIG. 21 shows a cross-sectionalview. FIG. 21 shows the two sides 171 and 172 of the sheet that arejoined with the two sides of the other sheet creating a sideseam 268 oneach side of the respective sheets, as shown in FIG. 22. While the viewof the remaining side 173 is largely obstructed by the collapsible back142, FIG. 21 shows how the collapsible back 142 is attached to theremaining side 173 forming the bottom seam 255, along an inner wall ofthe main body. Fig. further shows the conical main body with tworegions, analogous to the exemplary body of FIG. 11 above. The topregion 176 and lower region 178 of the sheet, when joined with the topregion and lower region of the other sheet, constitute a top region andlower region, respectively, similar to the top region 149 and lowerregion 154 of the conical main body, as shown in FIG. 5. The upperdividing line 174 of the sheet when joined with the upper dividing lineof the other sheet constitutes an upper dividing line similar to theupper dividing line 151 shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 21 further shows the tab143, composed of a top region 146 and a lower region 150, separated by ascoreline 148 in which notches 145 are made on each side, and enclosingthe tip 144 of the conical main body.

FIG. 22 shows a perspective view including the sideseams 268 created bythe joining of the two sides 171 and 172 of the two sheets. FIG. 22further shows the remaining side 173 of one of the sheets which, whenattached to the back 142 of the cone, forms the bottom seam 255constituting the circumference of the bottom of the container. FIG. 22also shows the lower region 178, the top region 176 and the upperdividing line 174 of one of the sheets, forming a part of thecollapsible sidewalls 141 of the container. FIG. 22 further shows thetab 143, composed of a top region 146 and a lower region 150, separatedby a scoreline 148 in which notches 145 are made on each side, andenclosing the tip 144 of the conical main body.

FIG. 23 shows a bottom view of the container composed of the collapsibleback 142 and the bottom seam 255 formed by the attachment of theremaining sides 173 of both sheets to the back 142 of the cone,constituting the circumference of the bottom of the container. FIG. 23further shows the sideseams 268 on each side of the respective sheetsformed by joining sides 171 and 172 of the sheet with the respectivecomplementary sides of the other sheet.

Methods for manufacturing and assembling a container and dispenser suchas described herein are disclosed in commonly-owned Internationalapplication no. PCT/US2005/002405, filed Jan. 25, 2005, and U.S.application Ser. No. 10/782,218, filed Feb. 19, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No.7,073,692, issued Jul. 11, 2006 (the entire contents of each of whichare incorporated herein by reference).

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that alternativeprocesses and manufacturing procedures are possible for the assembly ofthe dispenser as shown in the figures described above. Further, sheetsin different shapes might be used to manufacture the dispenser in a moreeconomical or efficient manner, and the shape of the sheets may beslightly adjusted or cut to facilitate or accommodate the welding,gluing or attaching of the various components of the dispenser. Inaddition, any of a variety of materials (for example, polymer or othersubstances) can be used to enable the various regions and parts of thecontainer and dispenser to be welded, glued or otherwise attached toeach other, and that there are a variety of different methods andprocedures by which such welding, gluing or attaching may be realized.Further, the dispenser and the tab can be manufactured in a wide rangeof sizes, lengths and widths, which may contain any of the features ofthe embodiments described above.

The present disclosure addresses the need for a dispenser as describedsupra. The dispenser can be used for a variety of fluid or semi-fluidsubstances including, but not limited to, any type of sauce (such asketchup, mayonnaise, salad dressing, etc.) spreadable cheese, chocolatepaste, coffee cream, other prepared foods, as well non-edible liquid orsemi-liquid consumer products such as conditioner or shampoo, hair gels,liquid soap, toothpaste and other cosmetic products. The subject matterof this disclosure obviates the need for a tool or utensil to open thedispenser and is therefore suitable for instances where such a tool orutensil is excessively burdensome or not practical. The conical shapeallows the user of the dispenser to apply the substance contained withinthe dispenser in a measured and precise manner, where they want it andin the volume they want it, in a very easy and convenient manner.Because the dispenser is re-sealable, users of the dispenser candispense the substance contained within at various times.

The conical-shaped container or dispenser of this disclosure can havemany features, such as a tab attached to a top region of the conicalmain body where a zone of weakness exists at a dividing line between thetop region and the rest of the main body to allow the user to easilytear off the tab and remove the top region of the main body, to open apassageway in the tip of the conical main body where the substance canexit the dispenser by pressing together the collapsible walls or back ofthe dispenser, without the need for a utensil. In addition, a middleregion of the cone can be made from a foil-like material that makes thecone re-sealable by pressing the walls of the middle region against eachother. Another optional feature is that a cap can be enclosed within thetab which allows the user to open or close the dispenser by removing orpressing the cap on the top region of the cone.

While some containers in the marketplace are squeezable (for example,tubes for toothpaste, sachets for ketchup, etc.), the container ordispenser of this disclosure embodies a combination of advantageousfeatures that contribute to user experience of convenience and controlthat is uniquely available to such container or dispenser. After easilytearing the tab and opening the container, the user is in completecontrol to dispense the content in a measured and precise manner by moreor less pressing the collapsible walls and back of the container and bypointing the tip of the conical main body to the spot where the contentshould be applied. The fact that the back is collapsible allows the userto push the content forward towards to the tip of the cone, completelyemptying the container, if the user so desires, and avoiding waste ofany content that may otherwise remain in the container or dispenser. Thecontainer or dispenser of this disclosure can be manufactured in avariety of ways, including, e.g., by blow molding the containerincluding tab, conical main body and back in one piece. Another manner,which is preferable, is to have the back and the rest of the containeras separate pieces, which are then joined together. In this manner, theuser may take advantage of a back of the container that would be easierto manipulate, resulting in an enhanced level of user convenience andcontrol.

In addition, the tab constitutes a component that is distinct from theconical main body. Other containers in the marketplace may provide for anotch on the side of the container where the user can start tearing toopen the container. The tab in the container or dispenser of thisdisclosure, however, is not only a way to facilitate the initiation ofthe tearing process, but also provides room where the tearing processcan gain speed by the time it reaches the conical main body, and thetearing speed can then be continued while tearing the conical main body.Such mechanism allows the container or dispenser to be more easilyopened. Further, the tab provides additional structural support tomaintain the shape and stiffness of the cone even when the volume of thesubstance contained within the container decreases.

What has been illustrated and described herein is an improvement incertain types of squeezable articles of manufacture such as fluidcontainers made of flexible material. While the improvements have beenillustrated and described with reference to certain preferredembodiments, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Inparticular, the foregoing specification and embodiments are intended tobe illustrative and are not to be taken as limiting. Thus, alternatives,such as structural or mechanical equivalents, or alternativemethodologies of manufacturing the subject matter of this disclosure,and other modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the artupon reading the foregoing description. Accordingly, such alternatives,changes, methodologies and modifications are to be considered as forminga part of the present disclosure insofar as they fall within the spiritand scope of the appended claims.

The examples described herein are primarily provided in the context of aconical dispenser made from flexible plastic material. Nevertheless, itshould be understood that the disclosure also contemplates applicationsusing other flexible waterproof material, not made of plastic. Also, theexamples provided are primarily provided in the context of a dispenserfor small portions of liquid or semi-liquid consumer goods.Nevertheless, it should be understood that the disclosure contemplatesapplications in any size, from very big to extra-small, and applicationsto containers outside the area of consumer goods, and for any substance,edible or non-edible. It should be understood that the added convenienceand ease of use of the container or dispenser of this disclosure mayalso offer benefits for non-liquid substances such as powders or icecream. In the case of ice cream or other iced substances, the user cansuck the content from the container at the small opening in the tip ofthe container while manipulating the collapsible walls and back of thecontainer. The above-mentioned applications are provided forillustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of thisdisclosure and the appended claims.

The specific examples and exemplary embodiments described above areillustrative, and many variations can be introduced on these examplesand embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure andthe appended claims. For example, it should be understood that elementsand/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combinedwith each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope ofthis disclosure and appended claims.

1-18 (canceled).
 19. A container comprising: a main body formed of acollapsible back and two sheets of a collapsible material, two sides ofone sheet joined to respective sides of the other sheet to formrespective side seams, and respective third sides of the two sheets eachjoined to the back to form respective bottom seams, and collapsiblesidewalls being bounded by the side seams and the bottom seams; and aflexible tab attached to the main body, the side seams of the main bodyconverging towards the flexible tab.
 20. The container as claimed inclaim 19, wherein the collapsible back and the collapsible sidewalls, incombination with the bottom seams and the side seams, form a chamber ofa conical form.